Global indicators for stocks were mixed Thursday as demand for big-ticket capital goods in the U.S. unexpectedly fell in September, and quarterly earings reports continued to roll in.

In today’s economic news, the U.S. government reported that durable goods orders fell 1.7% in September as military demand decreased. However, a closely watched indicator of overall business capital spending rose.

There are no major economic releases from Statistics Canada today.

The Canadian dollar opened at US103.73¢, up 0.54 of a cent.

In today’s earnings news, EnCana has approved development of its Deep Panuke natural gas project off the coast of Nova Scotia as it reported third-quarter net profits fell to US$934 million from US$1.36 billion for the same 2006 period.

Suncor Energy trimmed its production outlook after third-quarter profit slipped to $677 million from a year-earlier $682 million as planned maintenance outages reduced oilsands sales and increased refined product purchases.

Petro-Canada said its third-quarter profit rose 14.5% to $776 million, reflecting gains in East Coast Canada, international and oilsands operations, partly offset by lower earnings from refining, marketing and North American natural gas businesses.

Royal Dutch Shell said third-quarter net income rose 16%, as rising oil prices more than offset the loss of control of a Sakhalin venture and weaker refining margins and gas prices.

Sony reported a big jump in net profit in the fiscal second quarter, helped by strong electronics sales
that underscored a turnaround in that business.

Crude-oil futures rose $1.35 to US$88.45 a barrel as traders continued to react to data released Wednesday showing a surprise draw in energy inventories.

Overseas, stock markets in Europe advanced, with the FTSE 100 up 1% in London.

The Toronto Stock Exchange’s benchmark index closed flat Wednesday as a slump in financial shares was offset by surging resource issues.

The S&P/TSX composite index finished up 1.02 points, or 0.01%, at 14,088.51.

The financials group was the biggest drag, falling 1.05%. The junior S&P/TSX Venture composite index added 0.42 of a point to close at 3,018.68.

In New York, U.S. blue-chip stocks ended flat on after trimming steep losses late in the session amid speculation the U.S. Federal Reserve may act to cut the discount rate.

Before markets opened, Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc. reported its first quarterly loss in nearly six years, sparking a selloff.

The Dow Jones industrial average was down just 0.98 of a point, or 0.01%, at 13,675.25. The S&P 500 was down 3.71 points, or 0.24%, at 1,515.88. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was down 24.50 points, or 0.88%, at 2,774.76.